Main menu

Trevor Bayne wins pole for Nationwide

February 21, 2013

Trevor Bayne had a bit of deja vu on Friday, as he took the pole at Daytona for the Nationwide race. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Trevor Bayne returned to the scene of his greatest moment on Friday and just like two years ago, he drove into Victory Lane. This time, though, it was as fast qualifier for Saturday afternoon’s season-opening Nationwide Series race. He’ll lead the field to start the Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway, where he stunned NASCAR by winning the 2011 Daytona 500 for the Wood Brothers.

He’s still with the Woods, running a limited Sprint Cup schedule in the No. 21 Ford Fusion. His primary focus this year is the full 33-race Nationwide schedule in the No. 6 Ford Mustangs for Roush Fenway Racing. He’s with the same team that won the 2011 and 2012 championships with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Bayne went out fairly early in the session and knocked rookie teammate Travis Pastrana off the pole. His 177.162 mph lap stood up the rest of afternoon as 22 other drivers failed to dislodge him. Sam Hornish Jr. was second in a Ford at 176.869 mph and Toyota driver Parker Kligerman was third at 176.800 mph. Pastrana was fourth at176.637 mph in a Ford and Austin Dillon was fifth in a Chevrolet at 176.401 mph.

The rest of the top-10: Elliott Sadler, Kyle Busch, Alex Bowman and Matt Kenseth in Toyotas, and Chevy driver Tony Stewart. Of the top-10, only Bayne, Hornish, Pastrana, Kligerman, Dillon and Sadler plan to run the full Nationwide schedule this year.

Bayne longs to be running the full Cup schedule, but recognizes the opportunity he has with Roush Fenway’s top Nationwide team. “I’m excited to be the guy running for the championship this year,” he said after his sixth career Nationwide pole, his first at DIS. “There are high expectations following Ricky, but no pressure. After one day with the guys in the shop, I could see why they’ve won two championships. Winning those with Ricky was no fluke.”

Bayne said he was somewhat lucky to get an early qualifying draw. He said Friday afternoon’s gusty winds were relatively calm when he went, then picked up speed later in the session. “I think it mattered some that I went early,” he said. “(Crew chief) Mike Beam said he expected the winds to pick up later, and they did. And the other thing is, having the experience of being in Victory Lane here has been a great boost to my confidence.

“I know what it’s like to win here. I know the feeling of being over there (Victory Lane) after a race. And it always seems like I got good stuff when I come here: the best car, the best engine, the best crew and the best of everything else. I don’t know why it is, but it just seems that way. It sure felt that way today.”